Russia’s Leningrad region hit by ‘most intense’ drone attacks

MOSCOW

Russia’s Leningrad region has faced its most intense wave of drone attacks to date, with more than 240 drones shot down over the past week, regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said Saturday.

Drozdenko said the heaviest attack occurred Monday, when 70 drones were destroyed in a single day. Over the past 24 hours, 36 drones were downed.

“Since March 22, the region has been on heightened alert, repelling unprecedented attacks by enemy UAVs,” he said on Russian social media platform Max, adding that emergency services are operating around the clock.

Some drones struck infrastructure and transport facilities, causing minor damage. The main target was the port of Ust-Luga, a key hub for Russia’s energy exports.

The port was hit again overnight and caught fire, with rescue teams working to extinguish the blaze, he said.

Temporary restrictions were repeatedly imposed at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, resulting in 117 flight cancellations and 211 delays, he said.

Drozdenko urged residents to follow safety guidelines during air raid alerts, including avoiding unnecessary travel and staying away from windows. He also warned against approaching drone debris or filming air defense operations.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on Max that the capital also came under drone attack, with emergency services working at a crash site.

In Russia’s Belgorod region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said one person was killed in Ukrainian shelling, while authorities in the Samara region reported an industrial site hit in Tolyatti.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 3,000 Russian drones, along with 1,450 guided aerial bombs and 40 missiles, were intercepted across Ukraine this week.

“Ukraine is being struck by virtually the same attack drones that target the countries of the Middle East and the Gulf region,” he said, suggesting a shared origin.

He called for greater international cooperation to counter drone warfare and build joint defense systems.

Zelenskyy, who toured Gulf countries this week, signed defense agreements with Qatar and Saudi Arabia.